Main navigation

Vichy

Vichy used to be the capital when the northern part of France was under German occupation, so instead of Paris, they temporarily moved it to Vichy from 1940 to 1944. Vichy is located in the Central part of France. Check out my video on my youtube channel!

I heard about Vichy when I was on my train back to my home from Paris.I was stuck on the train for well over 3 hours.On a SUNDAY when no one works so if something happens, they take forever to repair it. So, I had a chance to talk to very nice (and stylish) Parisian women. She told me the architecture was beautiful, the streets are filled with the second empire architecture which is traced only to France, specifically to the reign of Napoleon III, 1852-1870. He frequently visited Vichy to ensure city development from 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864 et 1866. He first stayed in a palace of Issac Strauss, the ballroom director of Tuileries.

Inside of the church

Over time the architecture changed, there is a Neo-gothic, Art Deco and La Belle Époque which relates to the late Victorian era style. I was fascinated from what she told me that I was convinced to go, luckily I didn’t have to talk a train but a car since it was about an hour away from where I lived.

I didn’t go right away but about 3 months after that conversation. I was expecting the city center to be more glamourous since I was told by another woman who was born and raised there that the people are bourgeoise, meaning stuck up. It wasn’t until I saw the street called Boulevard des Etats-Unis, where the buildings were so beautiful.

Vichy is not just known for its architecture it is also a thermal spa resort and a place where the water called Vichy is from(like the name doesn’t make it obvious) The water from Vichy is mineral water and it aids in digestion.(Honestly their water is so bad, it is salty.) You don’t see a lot of young people drinking that water it is just the elderly.

The Grand next to the opera house

Well, I went on a Monday to Vichy because on Sundays usually, you don’t find anything that is open in France. Therefore I thought Monday would be a good day to tour the city but was I wrong. Apparently, nothing is open on a Monday! Just the mall and some restaurants. The tourist office was closed, the opera house was closed, E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. So, if you plan on visiting Vichy DO NOT GO ON A MONDAY or Tuesday some places are closed Monday and Tuesday!

Art deco church

I still got to see the Park, which is next to Boulevard des Etats-Unis the expensive area. You can see the Allier River in the Park. Along with the Church which I adored since it was very different from what I am used to seeing. The style of the church was Art Deco, not the usual Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance architecture.

Have you had any problems when traveling?

Bisous,

Nat

Source:

“Vichy.” Napoleon.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2017.

Primary Sidebar

About me

Hello, I am Natalia or you may know me as Natavu which means Nat saw, or Nat has seen in French. I started this blog as a hobby since I came to France to learn French. I wanted to write about my travels, Experiences and more.